Auto-trailer connector.



J. ROEDEL.

AUTO TRAILER CONNECTOR.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 29, 1914.

l 1 1 8,236. Patented Nov. 24, 1914.

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AUTO TRAILER CONNECTOR.

APPLICATION FILED APR.29,1914.

4 Patented Nov. 24,1914.

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AUTO TRAILER CONNECTOR.

APPLICATION FILED APR.29,1914.

Patented NOV. 24, 1914:.

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Bpeclficatlon of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 24;

implication riled April as. 191s. Serial 3%. sealer.

To all whom it may concern Be known that l, Jenn Rononn, a citisen of the United States residing at Defionce, in the. county of De ance and State of girls, have invented a new and useful Auto- Trailer Connector, or" which the following is 2 to the cart, and sleeve 11 operatingias a:

a ecification. v

'lhe object of my invention is to provide an ei dcient device for trailing a cart behind an automobile; to provide novel cart-attaching means; to provide novel auto axle-at taching means; and to provide novel means for sfiording the necessary relative movement or play between the cart-attaching means and the auto-axle attaching means.

it is a further object of my invention to provide a novel modified form of my invention having novel means for readily and quickly disconnecting the trailed cart from the towing vehicle, without the necessity of removing bolts, or the like.

It is a further object of my invention to provide in a device oi this kind, novel resilient means for allowing of tilting movements of the cart-attaching means relative to the auto axle-attaching means.

1 attain these and other objects of my invention by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a side elevation ofthe original form of my invention, attac s to two vehicles; Fig. 2 is a bottom p an of same;

Fig. 3 is a detail view of my resilient members 8; Fig. 4 is a side elevation, partly in section, of a modified form; Fig. 5 is aperspective detail view of members 16 and 17 Fig. 6 is a top plan of Fig. 4; Fig. 7 is a detail section on line 7-7 of Fig. Fig-8 isa top plan view of another form of my invention; Fig. 9 is a side view of Fig. 8.

Like characters of reference indicate like parts throughout the several views. l The purpose of my invention is to connect a cart (3 to the axle B of a forward or towing automobile'll. My cart-attaching-means comprises member 1 attached te -the cart; a member 2 attached to the forward portion of the cart; bolt 10 securing-members 1 and bracing and spreading member for members 1 and 2 as indicated in Fig. l; and fastening members 3 at or near the forward ends or conver 'ng portions of members 1 and 2.

It is within the contemplation of my inven-.

tion to attach member 1 either to the cart body or to axle D.

l /iy auto-aXle-attaching means, in the original form of my invention, comprises a transverse member 7, preferably of U-shape,

secured to portions of the rear axle B of the automobile by clamps 9. By means for operatively connecting the cart-attaching means above described with my auto-axleattaching means above described, in the original form of my invention, whereby to afi'ord the necessary or desirable relativemovement or play between the aforesaid devlces, comprises diverging arm members 4 and 5 attached to or preferably integrally formed with members 2 and l; a pivotal connecting member or bolt 6 operatively connecting the spaced ends of members at and 5; and resilient members 8 of rubber or the like supported or mounted on member 6 between the spaced ends of members 4 and 5 and flexibly or resiliently engagingtransverse member 7, as shown in detail in Fig. 3.

In operation, the pivotal connection of member? with member 6 aflords the necessary free lateral movement of the cart-attaching means relative to the auto axle-attaching means, and resilient members 8 allow needed relative vertical and tilting movement or play for the ordinary demands upon a device ofthis class. i

in the modified form of my invention illustrated in Figs. 4, 5, 6 and I employ the identical cart-attaching means hereinabove described and the identical auto-axleattaching means hereinabove described, but iiilieu of members 4, 5, 8 and 6 employ novel means for operatively connecting the cartattaching means with the auto axle-attaching means, whereby free relative vertical and free relative lateral movement of the above-mentioned means is provided; and

whereby means is also provided for easily andquickly uncoupling the portion of my invention-attachedto the cart from the portion of my invention attached to the auto axle. Referring ,to Fig. 7, I provide a bracket member 12 attached to member 7 which isaoperatively secured to-the auto axle *by'clamps 9 as heretofore set forth. 1 provide a pivotally mounted member 22, (provided with washers '23, preferably of leather,) to which a link 14 is fastened- Attached to the cart-attaching means I provide a coupling device operatively con nectible to the link it. The coupling device comprises a body portion 16 having a tongue 17 pivotally mounted to it, adapted to be engaged by a link 18, operated by latch 19 attached to spring 20', members 16' and 17 preferably being concaved at -21, as indicated in Fig. 5, for receiving a ball-shaped portion 15, preferably provided on link 14, as indicated in Figs. 4: and 6.

In operation, free lateral movement of the device is afforded by pivot 22, and free vertical movement is afi'orded by the pivotal connection of link it with the coupling device set forth. The coupling device set forth provides convenient means for releasing the cart-attaching means heretofore set forth from the link when it is desired to disconnect the cart'from the automobile by which it is towed. Latch 19, controlled by spring 20, operates link 18, whereby tongue 17, may be engaged or released from engagement,.and opened as indicated in Fig. 5 for the release of link la: from attachment to it.

in the form of my invention illustrated in Figs. 8 and 9, I provide members 4 and 5 operating substantially asset forth in the original form of my invention, save that they are not integral with members 2 and 1,--

respectively. ll further providemembers 8 between which transverse member 7 is mounted, and Which differ from members 8 heretofore described in that they are not resilient elements, thus permitting only. lateral movement of member 7 and not tilting movements. To afford the necessary free relative vertical movement of the cart-attaching means-relative to the fixed means, indicatedby 14, for attaching the device to the automobile axle, I employ the identical coupling devices heretofore described in detail in connection with the form of'my invention illustrated in Figs. 4, 5, 6 and 7,

but mounted to the ends of transverse memher 7, and operatively connectible'with the fixed axle-attached means llto-afi'ord free vertical movement, and also adord-ing means for quickly unlatching and disconnecting the cart from the towing automobile.

What I claim is: v 1. The combination of cart-attaching means adapted for rigid engagement with a cart body, axle-attaching means adapted for rigid engagement with spaced portions of the rear axle of a forward vehicle, and

means pivotally connecting the cart-attach ing means to the axle-attaching means to vafford unrestricted relative lateral move- I ment of the connected means.

2. The combination of cart-attachin means, including vertically spaced cart tongue members adapted to be attached to ment and unrestricted relative vertical movethe body of a cart and secured to the forattaching means with a transverse member to afford relative lateral and vertical movement; a transverse memberclamped to the rear axle of an automobile at opposite portions of said axle; and spring-controlled latch means 'operatively connecting the means secured to the towed vehicle with the means secured to the towing vehicle to allow facile connection and disconnection of the towed vehicle from operative engagement with the towing vehicle without removal of the means rigidly aiiixed to the two vehicles, substantially as set forth.

4. The combination of means rigidly secured to the body of a trailed cart for towing same; a transverse member, means pivotally connecting the transverse member withthe means attached to the trailed cart, means for aliixing the transverse member 'to opposite portions of the rear axle of a towing vehicle, and couplin means 0 eratively connecting rear-ve icle attac ed means to the forward-vehicle-attached means to provide a relative vertical moveengagement to connector disconnect the two vehicles, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto afiix my a signature, in the presence of two witnesses.

, JOHN ROTEDEL Witnesses:

' Caress,

. DEMDDRFER. 

